Connections-Based Contribution Debated at Alaska USF Workshop

connections, including a pending lawsuit against the Nebraska Public Service Commission where the association’s brief is due May 18 (see 1801310054). A connections-based approach is “difficult to implement in a manner that doesn't violate federal law,” said CTIA Counsel-External and State Affairs Matt DeTura Monday during a teleconferenced RCA workshop. It may also increase financial burden on low-income consumers and business customers, he said. CTIA supports funding state USF with general tax revenue, he said. Officials for Alaska Communications and the Alaska Attorney General Regulatory Affairs and Public Advocacy office supported connections-based contribution. AT&T General Attorney Cindy Manheim said Alaska USF is unsustainable but urged more time to discuss the right way forward. She suggested the RCA talk to the legislature before proceeding with a connections-based approach. The Alaska Telephone Association’s plan (see 1802270034) offers short-term stability while providing time to work out longer-term changes including what to do about contribution, said ATA Executive Director Christine O’Connor. Commissioner Robert Pickett said connections-based contribution may be unrealistic. And a 10-year sunset of the fund proposed by ATA may be too long, Pickett said. The AUSF size could be “rather de minimus” a decade from now at its current 10 percent annual rate of decline, he said.